Diplomat's invitation to North Korea revoked

Saturday

Aug 31, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 31, 2013 at 9:56 AM

PYONGYANG, North Korea -- North Korea has rescinded its invitation for a senior U.S. diplomat to travel to Pyongyang on a mission to secure the release of an American Christian missionary imprisoned on charges of committing hostile acts against the government, the State Department said yesterday.

PYONGYANG, North Korea -- North Korea has rescinded its invitation for a senior U.S. diplomat to travel to Pyongyang on a mission to secure the release of an American Christian missionary imprisoned on charges of committing hostile acts against the government, the State Department said yesterday.

The diplomat, Robert King, Washington’s ambassador for North Korean human-rights issues, had been scheduled to fly to Pyongyang today.

The State Department earlier had said that King intended to request a pardon and amnesty for the missionary, Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American from Washington state.